Shoe conforming and wiper heating apparatus



Se t. 4, 1962 J. s. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,051,969

SHOE CONFORMING AND WI PER HEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 1 P 4, 1962 J. s. KAMBORIAN ETAL SHOE CONFORMING AND WIPERHEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 4, 1962 J. s.KAMBORIAN ET AL 3,051,969

snow CONFORMING AND WIPER HEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 4Sheets5heet 3 95 150 by 1M;

Sept. 4, 1962 .1. s. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,051,969

SHOE CONFORMING AND WIPER HEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 4 4 mmvrozzs Jzmj .ilanzdaum Unite This invention relatesto shoe machines, and particularly to machines for lasting the toes ofshoes.

In pending application Serial No. 50,177, filed August 17, 1960, in thenames of Jacob S. Kamborian, Charles J. Dyer and Alan G. Baker, there isdisclosed a flexible shoe conformer comprising a substantially U-shapedyoke for engaging a shoe upper mounted on a last during relativeheightwise movement of the yoke and last prior to the wiping of thelasting margin of the upper down upon the shoe insole that is alsomounted on the last. In said application, resilient means are providedto yieldably urge the yoke against the last during the aforesaidrelative movement to ensure that the yoke will perform its functionefficiently. Subsequent to the conforming of the upper to the shape ofthe last, the lasting margin of the upper is wiped down against theinsole by wipers that are moved across the insole. It is desirable thatthese wipers be heated so that they may iron the folded lasting marginflat against the insole.

An object of this invention is to provide a shoe conforming apparatushaving a similar function to that disclosed in the aforesaid pendingapplication in combination with a means for heating the wipers in allpositions of the wipers. Another object is to provide a compactconforming apparatus comprising a substantially U-shaped yoke that takesup a minimum of space and whose support is located to a large extentwithin the frame of the machine and that provides for yieldablysupporting the bight and legs of the yoke. A further object is toprovide an efficient mechanism for applying heat to the wipers in aneffective manner in all the positions of the wipers. Other objects ofthe inventions will become apparent upon a reading of the followingdetailed description of the invention.

These objects are carried out by providing a support for the yokecomprising a pair of support arms that are attached to the legs of theyoke and are pivotally mounted on a plate. The bight of the yoke issupported in the plate, and spring means are provided to yieldably urgethe plate forwardly against a limit stop. The support arms are connectedto each other through a toggle linkage that has a spring associated withit to apply a force to the toggle linkage in such a direction as toyieldably urge the support arms and the yoke legs connected theretotoward each other. T he support arms, which are positioned subjacent thewipers, have heated blocks mounted thereon: that are resiliently urgedupwardly by springs into engagement with the wiper undersurfaces. Theblocks have depending pins that fit into oversize holes in the supportarms so that the blocks may rock or tilt during the movement of theWipers and thus maintain a maximum bearing against the wipers despiteany irregularities in the wiper undersurfaces.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the shoe conforming apparatus and wiper heatingmeans;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2r-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 with the deformableyoke omitted;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG. I with the deformableyoke omitted;

3,651,969 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 FIG. 5 is a plan view of the wiperdriving mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation partially in section of the shoe support;

FIG. 7 is an elevation showing the wiper heating block and the portionof the support arm that supports the block;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical section showing the relationship of the last,upper, yoke, heating blocks and wipers.

The improved shoe conforming and wiper heating apparatus may be used inconjunction with a toe lasting machine such as the one disclosed inpending application Serial No. 778,188, filed December 4, 1958 in thenames of Robert B. Dunlap and Jacob S. Kamborian, now Patent No.3,011,186, granted December 5, 1961. Referring to FIG. 6, the machineincludes a frame 10. A shoe support 12 comprising a toe rest 13 and aheel clamp 15 is so mounted on the frame that it may be moved heightwisewith respect thereto. To accomplish this, a sleeve 14 is slidablymounted on the frame for heightwise movement relative to the frame. Thesleeve is supported in a vertical position on the frame by brackets 16and 18. A carriage 20 is fastened to the sleeve by brackets 22 and 24,and a pair of collars 26 and 28 are rigidly connected to the sleeveabove and below the bracket 22 to provide for movement of the carriagewith the sleeve. A fluid operated motor 36, having a piston rod 32connected to the lower end of the sleeve, provides for effectingheightwise movement of the sleeve 14 and hence of the carriage 20. Thesleeve supports a toe post 34 upon which is mounted the aforementionedtoe rest 13.

A toe clamp 36 for clam-ping a last =38 against the toe rest 13 isslidably mounted in the carriage 20 for movement heightwise of thecarriage by being connected to a plate 40 which is slidably mounted in aguideway 42 secured to the carriage 20. The plate 40 is connected to thepiston rod 44 of a fluid actuated motor 46 mounted on the carriage 211.Thus, actuation of the motor 46 to raise or lower the piston rod 44causes a corresponding raising or lowering of the toe clamp 36.

The heel clamp 15 is engageable with the heel end of the last by beingslidably mounted for horizontal movement at the top of the carriage 21).The heel clamp, comprising a pair of divergent jaws, is connectedthrough a post 48 to a bracket 56. The bracket 50 is connected to thepiston rod 52 of a fluid actuated motor 54, so that actuation of themotor 54 to move the piston rod 52 causes a corresponding movement ofthe heel clamp 15 towards or away from the heel end of the last. A fluidactuated motor 56 is mounted on the carriage and drives a latch 58 intoengagement with a toothed bar 60 connected to the post 48 to lock theheel clamp in clamped position.

The frame 16 includes a block 62 (see FIG. 5) upon which is slidablymounted a plate 64. A pair of wiper cams 66 are slidable over the plate64 and have arcuate cam slots 68 therein to receive pins 70 that areupstanding from the plate 64. A pair of wipers 72 are rigidly connectedto the wiper cams 66.

A fluid actuated motor 74, mounted in the frame 10, is connected to theplate 64 and the Wiper cams 66 so as to concomitantly impart rectilineartranslation of the plate 64 with respect to the stationary block 62 andarcuate movement of the wiper cams 66 with respect to the plate 64 aboutthe center of curvature of the slots 68. The motor 74 has a piston rod76 that is coupled to a block 78, the latter being slidable in ways 80bounding the edge of a slot 82 in the plate 64. Short links 84 arepivotally connected at one end to the block 78 and at their oppositeends to levers 86. The levers '86 are pivotally connected to the plate64 intermediate their ends by pivots 88, and at the ends remote from thelinks 84 to links 90. Each 3 link 90, in turn, is pivotally connected tothe block 62 at a fixed point 91. The block 78 has links 92 pivotallyconnected thereto at one end. The links 92 are pivotally connected atthe ends remote from the block 78 to the cam plates 66.

It will thus be seen that movement of the piston rod 76 to the right(FIG. 5) causes a corresponding movement of the block 78. Due to theconnections at pivots 88 between the plate 64 and the levers 86,movement of the block 78 to the right causes a corresponding translationof the plate 64, but at a slower rate than the block. Due to the links92, movement of the block 7 8 to the right causes the wiper cams 66 toswing with respect to the plate 64 about an axis lying at the center ofcurvature of the camslots 68 with the pins 70 riding in the cam slotsduring the translation of the plate 64. The movement of the wiper earns66 imparts a corresponding movement to the wipers 72 to cause them towipe the lasting margin of the upper at the toe of the shoe down againstthe insole, as will be described below.

The shoe conforming and wiper heating unit 93 is mounted in the framebelow the wipers and wiper driving means =(see FIGS. 14). The unitincludes a block '94 slidably mounted in horizontal gibs 96 in the frame10. The block has a lug 98 depending therefrom into which a threadedshaft 108 is screwed. The shaft 100 is rotatable in a bearing 102 fixedto the frame and is geared through bevel gears 104 and 106 to a rod 108rotatably mounted in the frame. The rod 108 extends through the frameand has a handle 110 secured thereto. Thus, rotation of the handle 110will cause the threaded shaft 100 to rotate in the lug 98 and cause thelug together with the rest of the block 94 to slide along the gibs 96.

The block 94 includes spaced parallel Ways 112 between which is slidablymounted a plate 114. A pin 116 projects into each of the ways 112 in aposition to intersect the plate 114 and act as a stop to thereby limitthe forward movement of the plate in the ways. The plate 114 isyieldably urged forwardly against the pins 116 by two compressionsprings .118 one of which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The block 94 hastwo lugs 120 upstanding therefrom (see FIG. 3). A rod 122 is threadedinto a threaded opening in each lug 120 (see FIG. 2). Each rod 122 has asmall diameter extension 124 projecting forwardly therefrom that extendsthrough an opening 126 in a projection 128 extending downwardly from theplate 114. Each rod extension 124 has a kerf in which a screw-driver bitmay be inserted. A compression spring 118 is wound about each rodextension and extends between the projection 128 and a shoulder 130 atthe juncture of the threaded portion of the rod 122 and the rodextension 124. By rotating the rods 12-2 in the lugs 126, the distancebetween the shoulders 130 and the projections 128 may be adjusted, andthus the spring forces yieldably urging the plate 114 against the pins116 may be adjusted.

The plate 114 has a pair of support arms 132 pivoted thereto at the rearends of the support arms by pivots 134. The support arms converge towardeach other at approximately the forward end of the plate 114 and thendiverge from each other to form divergent support arm fingers 135. Ashoe conformer 138, in the form of a generally U-shaped yoke having abight 137 and legs 144 extending forwardly of the bight on oppositesides of the bight, is provided. The plate 114 has a recess 136 at itsforward end adapted to receive the bight of the yoke. L-shaped flanges140 are provided adjacent the forwardmost extremities of the arms 132which are adapted to extend into elongate slots 142 in the legs oftheyoke (see FIG. 1) and therebyconnect the fingers to the yoke. Theyoke is fashioned out of a flexible, deformable material, preferablyhaving a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon. Reference is madeto the aforementioned pending application Serial No. 50 ,177, filedAugust 17,

A} 1960 for a more detailed disclosure of the yoke and the manner inwhich it is mounted.

The support arms 132 are connected to each other through a togglelinkage comprising toggle links 146 pivotally connected to the arms 132by pivots 148 and pivotally connected to each other by a toggle pin 150.The toggle pin extends downwardly through the plate 114 by way of anelongate slot 152 in the plate.

The plate 114 has ways 154 that slidably receive a primary slide 156(see FIGS. 3 and 4). Slidably mounted in ways 158 (FIG. 4) in theprimary slide is a secondary slide 160. The lower end of the toggle pinis seated in the secondary slide, and the primary slide has an elongatedslot 162 to accommodate the toggle pin.

The primary slide has a plate 166 dependent therefrom at its forward endin which a hollow bushing 168 is threaded. A shaft 170 is threaded intoa dependent flange 172 of the secondary slide and is slidable in thebushing 168. A compression spring 174, coiled about the shaft betweenthe flange 172 and the bushing 168, serves to yieldably urge thesecondary slide rearwardly in the ways 158 of the primary slide 156 to aposition wherein the toggle pin 15%) abuts the rearward end 164 of theslot 162. By adjusting the bushing 168 in the plate 166, the springforce yieldably urging the secondary slide against the primary slide maybe adjusted.

A rod 176 (FIG. 1) having a knob 178 thereon is rotatably mounted in abearing that is fixed in the plate 166 and which is similar to theaforementioned bearing 102 (see FIG. 4). The rod 176 is threaded into alug 179 dependent from the plate 114. By rotating the knob 178, theposition of the primary slide 156, the secondary slide 160 and thetoggle pin 150 may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly.

A heating block 180, made of heat conductive material such as brass, ismounted on each support arm finger 135 beneath each wiper 72. The blocksare constructed so that their upper surfaces are substantially levelwith the upper surface of the yoke 138 and bear against theundersurfaces of the Wipers 72 (see FIG. 9). Each block comprises aforward portion 182 that is substantially parallel to its associatedsupport arm finger 135 and a rear inwardly curved portion 184. Anelectric heating cartridge 186 is located in a bore 138 in each blockportion 182. Each heating cartridge has Wires 191) extending therefromleading to a source of power. The blocks have pins 192 (FIGS. 7 and 8)extending downwardly therefrom that are received in bores 194 in thesupport arm fingers 135. The bores 194 have a larger diameter than thepins 192 to permit some degree of play of the pins in the bores. Springmeans are provided in the fingers 135 for yieldably urging the blocksupwardly of the fingers 135 against the undersides of the wipers 72. Asshown in FIG. 7, this takes the form of a ball 196 slidable in a bore198 in the finger 135 and receivable in a socket 200 in the undersurfaceof the block portion 182. A plunger 262 bears against the undersurfaceof the ball, and the plunger is engaged by a compression spring 284interposed between the plunger 202 and a cap 226 threaded into thebottom of the bore whereby the spring yieldably urges th block 180upwardly against the associated wiper. Alternatively, the blocks 180 maybe urged upwardly by a leaf spring 208 secured to the undersides of thefingers 135 bearing against a plunger 210 extending through a bore inthe finger, the plunger 210 in turn bearing against the underside of theblock (see FIG. 4).

The heated blocks 13% are so located as to bear against the undersidesof the Wipers 72 in both the advanced and retracted positions of thewipers and thus, continuously supply heat to the wipers so that when thewipers advance across the shoe to wipe the lasting margin of the upperdown against the insole, they will, due to their heated condition, ironthe margin down fiat against the insole and press down anyirregularities in the lasting some margin. During the movement of thewipers from retracted to advanced position, the blocks 180 will, due tothe aforementioned spring means be yieldably urged against the wiperunderside. Ideally, the undersurfaces of the wipers should be flat orplanar, but in actuality they have irregularities and are not completelyflat. The pins 192 and oversize bores 194 permit the blocks 180 to rockto a limited degree in any direction so that the upper surfaces of theblocks 180 have the maximum amount of their upper surfaces bearingagainst the undersurfaces of the wipers even where the wiper undersidesdeviate from the horizontal.

The shoe conforming and wiper heating unit 93 is so mounted in themachine that the wipers 72 in their movement move just over the uppersurface of the yoke 138 and as aforesaid, the upper surfaces of theblocks bear at all times against the undersurfaces of the wipers. Theunit is adjusted in the machine so that all of the inwardly facingsurface 212 of the yoke 138 is exposed forwardly of the wipers 72 in theretracted position of the wipers, and the yoke legs 1 14 are adjusted toapproximately conform to the shape of the last that is to be worked on.To accomplish these adjustments, the handle 110 may be rotated to adjustthe block 94 in the frame and thus adjust the position of the yoke 138relative to a shoe that is mounted in the shoe support 12. The rods 122and the bushing 168 are rotated to respectively provide the desiredsettings for the springs 118 and 174. The knob 178 is rotated to adjustthe position of the primary slide 156 in the plate 114. Due to thespring 174 yieldably urging the toggle pin 150 mounted on the secondaryslide 160 against the slot end 164, forward or rearward movement of theprimary slide causes a corresponding movement of the toggle pin 150.Forward movement of the toggle pin, through the toggle linkage, causesthe arms 132 to swing about the pivots 134 in a direction to separatethe support arm fingers 135 and thus move the yoke legs 144 apart andrearward movement of the toggle pin causes the yoke legs to move closertogether.

When the unit 93 has been adjusted in accordance with the size and shapeof the shoe to be lasted, the last 38 having a shoe insole 214 and upper216 mounted thereon (see FIG. 9) is placed bottom-up on the shoe support12. At this time the. toe clamp 36 and heel clamp are brought intoengagement with the shoe and remain in engagement with the shoe duringthe movements of the shoe and wipers described below. The support 12 atthis time is so located that the upwardly facing surface of the insoleis above the plane of the undersurfaces of the wipers 72 and theshoulder 218 of the last at the intersection of the last bottom and sideedges overlaps the inwardly facing wall 212 of the yoke 138 as indicatedin FIG. 1.

.T he motor 30 is now actuated to lower the last to a location whereinthe upwardly facing surface of the insole 214- is positioned below theundersurface of the wipers an amount approximately equal to thethickness of the lastingmargin 220 of the .upper. During this downwardmovement the bight 137 of the yoke is yieldably urged forwardly by thesprings 118 to maintain the slide 114 pressed against the pins 116, andthe spring 174, by urging the toggle pin 150 rearwardly urges the legs139 of the yoke inwardly thereby compressing the deformable yoke. Whenthe yoke can no longer be compressed, the bight 137 of the yoke isflexed rearwardly of the machine against the pressure exerted by thesprings 118 causing the plate 114 to move rearwardly away from the pins116. Should the last be substantially wider than the space between theyoke legs 139, after the yoke legs have reach the limits of theircompressibility, the yoke legs are moved apart against the yieldablepressure exerted by the spring 174. The movement apart of the yoke legscauses the support arms 132 to swing apart about the pivots 134, whichin turn through the toggle links 146 causes the toggle pin 150 andsecondary slide 160 to move forwardly against the pressure of the spring174. The net effect of these yieldable forces is to cause the upper 216to snugly conform to the shape of the last 38 during the downwardmovement of the shoe support and take out any wrinkles or irregularitiesin the upper material, and to cause the lasting margin 220 of the upperto extend upwardly of the last (FIG. 9).

After the shoe and last have completed their downward movement, adhesivemay be applied in the angle formed between the upstanding margin of theupper and the insole which will adhesively bond the lasting margin tothe insole when the lasting margin is subsequently wiped down onto theinsole. Although the adhesive may be applied in any manner desired, itis preferred to apply a thermoplastic quick-setting adhesive in themanner disclosed in Patent No. 2,969,555, granted Jan. 3 1, 1961, toJacob S. Kamborian or pending application Serial No. 762,600, filedSeptember 22, 1958 in the name of Jacob S. Kamborian, now Patent No.3,009,182, granted November 21, 1961. Alternately, precemented uppersmay be used wherein the lasting margin has adhesive applied theretoprior to the insertion of the shoe in the machine, which adhesive isactivated to bond the lasting margin to the insole under the pressureexerted by the wipers during their wiping action. It is alsocontemplated that after the lasting margin has been wiped down over theinsole, it may be secured thereto by tacks, staples or other similarfastening means.

When the shoe and last have completed their downward movement, the shoeupper is yieldably clamped between the last and yoke as indicated inFIG. 9. The motor 74 is now actuated to move the wipers 72 forwardlyover the shoulder 218 of the last to wipe or fold the lasting margin 220of the upper 216 down against the insole 214. During this movement theheated blocks bear continuously against the wipers so that the wipersremain continuously heated during their movement, and thus iron thefolded lasting margin down flat against the insole. As the wipers moveover the shoe, upward pressure may be applied to the last through themotor 30 to create pressure between the undersurfaces of the wipers andthe upwardly facing surface of the insole during the wiping operation.When the wipers have completed their forward movement, an increasedbedding pressure may be applied between the insole and wipers. After thecompletion of the wiping operation, the motor 30 is actuated to lowerthe last, the motor 74 is actuated to retract the wipers, the toe clamp36 and heel clamp 15 are disengaged from the shoe and the carriage 20 israised to its initial position. The lasted shoe may now be removed fromthe machine.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Forexample, it is within the purview of the invention to use the shoeconformer in other organizations than that disclosed, such as in abox-toe trimming machine to conform the upper to the shape of the lastprior to trimming the boxtoe, lining and outer leather at the toe end ofthe shoe.

Reference is made to copending application Serial No. 34,564, filed June7, 1960, in the name of Jacob S. Kamborian and Heinz W. Stemmler, whichdiscloses a different shoe conforming apparatus having the same generalpurpose as the shoe conforming apparatus of the instant invention.

We claim:

1. In a lasting machine comprising wiper means; a shoe support forsupporting a last having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; meansfor imparting relative heightwise movement to the shoe support and thewiper means to cause relative downward movement of the shoe support withrespect to'the wiper means; shoe conformer means for engaging the shoeupper during said movement to conform the upper to the shape of thelast; means for supporting the shoe conformer below the wiper means; andmeans for moving the wiper means across the last bottom to fold thelasting margin of the upper against the insole: the improvementcomprising means for heating the wiper means, said heating means beingmounted on the shoe conformer support means.

2. A lasting machine comprising: wiper means; a shoe support forsupporting a last having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; meansfor imparting relative heightwise movement to the shoe support and wipermeans to cause relative downward movement of the shoe support withrespect to the wiper means; a shoe conformer for engaging the shoe upperduring said movement to conform the upper to the shape of the last;means for supporting the shoe conformer below the Wiper means, saidconformer supporting means comprising a finger positioned alongside ofand connected to the conformer; means for moving the wiper means acrossthe last bottom to fold the lasting margin of the upper against theinsole; and wiper heating means mounted on said finger.

3. A lasting machine comprising: wiper means; a .shoe support forsupporting a last having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; meansfor imparting relative heightwise movement to the shoe support and wipermeans to cause relative downward movement of the shoe support withrespect to the wiper means; a shoe conformer comprising a yoke having abight and legs extending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of thebight for engaging the shoe upper during said movement to conform theupper to the shape of the last; means for supporting the yoke below thewiper means with the legs extending toward the last comprising a fingerextending alongside of and exteriorly of each yoke leg and meansconnecting each finger to a yoke leg; means for moving the wiper meansacross the last bottom to fold the lasting margin of the upper againstthe insole; and a heated block on each finger extending upwardly thereofto heat the Wiper means.

4. A lasting machine according to claim 3, wherein the heated blocks arein engagement with the undersur-face of the wiper means. i

5. A lasting machine comprising: wipers; a shoe support for supporting alast having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; means for impartingrelative heightwise movement to the shoe support and wipers to causerelative downward movement of the shoe support with respect to thewipers; a shoe conformer comprising a yoke having a bight and legsextending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the bight forengaging the shoe upper during said movement to conform the shoe upperto the shape of the last; means for supporting the yoke below the wiperswith the legs extending toward the last comprising a finger extendingalongside of and exteriorly of each yoke leg and means connecting eachfinger to a yoke leg; means for moving the wipers across the last bottomto fold the lasting margin of the upper against the insole; a heatedblock mounted on each finger; and yieldable means for urging said blocksupwardly of the fingers into engagement with the undersurfaces of thewipers.

6. A lasting machine comprising: Wipers; a shoe support for supporting alast having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; means for impartingrelative heightwise movements to the shoe support and wipers to causerelative downward movement of the shoe support with respect to thewipers; a shoe conformer comprising a yoke having a bight and legsextending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the bight forengaging the shoe upper during said movement to conform the shoe upperto the shape of the last; means for supporting the yoke below the wiperswith the legs extending toward the last comprising a finger extendingalongside of and exteriorly of each yoke leg and means connecting eachfinger to a yoke leg; means for moving the wipers across the last bottomto fold the lasting margin of the upper against the insole; a heatedblock located on each finger; yieldable means for urging said blocksupwardly of the fingers into engagement with the undersurfaces of thewipers; and means mounting the blocks on the fingers to permit rockingmovement of the blocks with respect to the fingers.

7. A lasting machine comprising: wipers; a shoe support for supporting alast having a shoe upper and insole mounted thereon; means for impartingrelative heightwise movement to the shoe support and Wipers to causerelative downward movement of the shoe support with respect to theWipers; a shoe conformer comprising a yoke having a bight and legsextending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the bight forengaging the shoe upper during said movement to conform the shoe upperto the shape of the last; means for supporting the yoke below the wiperswith the legs extending toward the last comprising a finger extendingalongside of and exteriorly of each yoke leg and means connecting eachfinger to a yoke leg; means for moving the wipers across the last bottomto fold the lasting margin of the upper against the insole; a heatedblock located on each finger beneath a wiper; a pair of pins dependingfrom each block; a pair of bores in each finger of greatercross-sectional dimensions than the pins for receiving said pins andpermit the blocks to rock with respect to the fingers; and spring meansassociated with each finger for yieldably urging the fingers upwardlyinto engagement with the undersurfaces of the wipers.

8. A shoe conforming apparatus comprising: a deformable yoke having abight and a pair of legs extending forwardly of the bight on oppositesides of the bight; a block; a plate slidably mounted in the block;spring means yieldably urging the plate forwardly on the block; stopmeans for limiting the extent of forward movement of the plate under theinfluence of the spring means; means on the plate for supporting thebight of said yoke; a pair of support arms pivotally mounted on saidplate and extending alongside said yoke legs exteriorly of said yoke;means connecting each support arm to a yoke leg; a primary slide mountedin the plate; a secondary slide slidably mounted in the primary slide;aligned slots in the plate and primary slide; a toggle pin mounted inthe secondary slide and extending upwardly through said slots; a togglelink pivotally connected to each support arm, said links being pivotallyconnected at their ends remote from the support arms to said toggle pin;and spring means interposed between said primary and secondary slidesfor yieldably urging the secondary slide rearwardly of the primary slidewhereby the support arms and the yoke legs connected thereto areyieldably urged toward each other.

9. A shoe lasting apparatus for use with a last having a shoe upper andinsole mounted thereon comprising: wiper means; means for moving thewiper means in a direction to cause it to move across the insole to wipethe lasting margin of the upper upon the insole; a heated blockpositioned below the Wiper means; and means for yieldably urging theblock upwardly against the undersurface of the wiper means.

10. A shoe lasting apparatus for use with a last having a shoe upper andinsole thereon comprising: wiper means; means for moving the wiper meansin a direction to cause it to move across the insole to wipe the lastingmargin of the upper upon the insole; a heated block positioned belowsaid Wiper means; yieldable means for urging said block upwardly intoengagement with the undersurface of the wiper means; and meanssupporting the block for rocking movement.

11. A shoe lasting apparatus for use with a last having a shoe upper andinsole mounted thereon comprising: wiper means; means for moving thewiper means in a direction to cause it to move across the insole to wipethe lasting margin of the upper upon the insole; a heated blockpositioned beneath the wiper means; a pair of pins depending from theblock; a support finger located below the block; a pair of bores in thefinger of greater crosssectional dimensions than the pins for receivingsaid pins and permitting the block to rock with respect to the finger;and spring means associated with the finger for yieldably urging thefinger upwardly into engagement with the undersurface of the wipermeans.

12. A shoe conforming apparatus comprising: a de formable yoke having abight and a pair of legs extending forwardly of the hight on oppositesides of the bight; a plate located rearwardly of the yoke; means on theplate for supporting the bight of the yoke; a pair of support armspivotably mounted on said plate and extending alongside said yoke legsexteriorly of said yoke; means connecting each support arm to a yokeleg; a primary slide 10 mounted in the plate; a secondary slide mountedin the primary slide; aligned slots in the plate and the primary slide;a toggle pin mounted in the secondary slide and extending upwardlythrough said slots; a toggle link pivotably connected to each supportarm, said links being pivotably connected at their ends remote from thesupport arms to said toggle pin; and spring means interposed betweensaid primary and secondary slides for yieldably urging the secondaryslide rearwardly of the primary slide whereby the support arms and theyoke legs connected thereto are yieldably urged toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,108,859 Kamborian Feb. 22, 1938 2,153,570 Iorgensen Apr. 11, 19392,986,753 Gilbride June 6, 1961

